How to Set Up the Universe to Conspire in Your Favor
The Science Behind Creative Flow, Motivation, and Following Your Purpose
This past week has been intense—it’s the last week of school, and the half-days have been brutal. Between my kids’ activities, writing, and working on a public art project, I’ve been struggling to find the time and energy for anything that requires deep thought.
I catch myself defaulting to low-effort, repetitive tasks instead of facing the work that demands focus and vulnerability. It’s not laziness—it’s fatigue, self-doubt, and an overworked mind. So what gives? How do you stay motivated when you’re hanging by a thread—especially in moments of identity crisis or burnout?
Things Fall Into Place—But Why?
A friend recently reminded me: limiting beliefs don’t serve anyone. She encouraged me to accept my reality—chaos and all—and trust that when I’m aligned with my deeper purpose, things often have a way of falling into place. At first, I brushed it off. It felt too vague and mystical. But then I thought about the times when I’ve set a meaningful goal and fully committed—how opportunities, energy, and clarity somehow seemed to meet me halfway.
This feeling of “things falling into place” is often described in spiritual or intuitive language, but there’s a scientific explanation for it, too. Research in psychology and behavioral science gives us tools that help explain how alignment, motivation, and follow-through actually work.
The Right Path Feels Like Home
I’ve mentioned this before, but my multifaceted path—combining social impact design, academic writing, and public art in unused urban spaces—has always felt like home. I feel lit up when I’m writing articles that matter, when I’m proposing ideas for art installations, or designing with meaning. These practices are how I make sense of the world and contribute to it. They give me energy.
It’s not always easy—but it feels right.
Psychologists call this kind of internal alignment Self-Determination Theory (SDT)1. According to SDT, we thrive when we feel three things: competence, autonomy, and connection. When I’m working in these overlapping fields, I feel all three. I’ve even received grants and commissions that surprised me—not because I was the most polished or experienced, but because I was rooted in something real.
As Viktor Frankl once wrote:
“For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue…as the unintended side-effect of one’s personal dedication to a course greater than oneself.”
The Flow State
When your work aligns with your interests, skills, and values, you’re more likely to enter a state of flow2—a term coined by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Flow is that immersive mental state where time warps, distractions fade, and your best ideas emerge with surprising clarity. Artists often describe it as everything clicking into place.
In a flow state, even difficult challenges feel energizing rather than overwhelming. The effort is still there—but it’s meaningful, not draining.
What Gets in the Way
Unfortunately, the world around us doesn’t always support this kind of deep, aligned work—especially not social media.
Social media often glamorizes the end result of creative work, making the process seem effortless. For aspiring artists, this can backfire. When people only fantasize about success—without confronting the effort it takes—it tricks the body into thinking the goal is already achieved. Studies show that indulging in positive fantasies can actually lower systolic blood pressure, making people feel less motivated to act. Your body says, “We made it,” even when you haven’t started.
The Science of Staying Motivated: Mental Contrasting
But there’s a better way.
Psychologist Gabriele Oettingen at NYU developed a strategy called mental contrasting3. It’s simple: first, imagine your desired future. Then, contrast it with your current reality and the real obstacles in the way. If you believe the goal is possible, this contrast triggers an increase in energy and motivation. Your blood pressure goes up—just a little—which is your body preparing for action.
Mental contrasting works best when the goal really matters to you. And it’s especially effective when paired with a second strategy called implementation intentions—which are “if-then” plans.
If I face this obstacle, then I’ll take this action.
These plans help your brain automate decisions when resistance shows up. Here are a few I’ve used in my own creative practice:
If I feel too scared to share my work, then I’ll post a sketch or process photo with a short caption—just to stay visible.
If I avoid sending that email, then I’ll spend 10 minutes drafting it and remind myself it doesn’t need to be perfect.
If I feel too tired after work, then I’ll spend just 15 minutes sketching or writing—no pressure to finish anything.
If a freelance job threatens to take over, then I’ll block one evening for my own work—non-negotiable.
If I notice I’m making work to please others, then I’ll return to my original vision and spend time working alone.
These are not magic tricks. They are concrete strategies backed by research. They turn vague hopes into small, doable actions that build momentum over time.
Is the Universe Conspiring in Your Favor?
When you're on a path that reflects your true values, things do feel easier—not because the world changes, but because you do. Your thoughts, behaviors, and decisions become more coherent. Psychologists call this cognitive coherence4. When your inner world aligns with your outer actions, you stop swimming against yourself.
To the more spiritual part of us, it can feel like “the universe is conspiring in your favor.” It’s not. But it feels that way—because your life becomes less random and more connected. That feeling boosts confidence, sharpens direction, and increases your resilience when things get hard.
Final Thoughts
As artists, we’re often asked to hold contradictions: to be both dreamers and doers, vulnerable and resilient, disciplined and free. The good news is that we’re not entirely at the mercy of chaos or inspiration. There are evidence-based strategies—like mental contrasting, implementation intentions, and tuning into self-determined goals—that can help us move forward even in the mess.
When we walk a path aligned with who we are—and commit to facing our obstacles with clarity—things do begin to fall into place.
Not by luck. But by design.
Competence, autonomy, and connection- this makes sense to me. You provide practical strategies.
It's fascinating to see how many ways there are to mentally prepare ourselves for the artistic challenges ahead.